The sun shone brilliantly, streaming through the upstairs window. Yosei stumbled down the stairs still yawning and stretching, sleepy tears in his golden eyes. At the foot of the stairs, he halted. Something squishy molded between his toes, forcing him to look down in disgust.
"Sponge?" he murmured to himself and looked around. There were an assortment of odd items littering the floor. He recognized his toothbrush amongst the mess.
"Angelo?" Yosei called through the house, hands on his hips, "Angelo, where are you?" He followed a trail into the kitchen and peeked around the corner.
"GAH! Where is it?!" a voice drifted from beneath the sink. Someone's back-end stuck out as they continued to rummage. Yosei leaned on the sink and knocked on the tabletop, "Ang!"
A loud BANG rang as his head smacked a pipe. Angelo emerged from under the cupboards rubbing it gingerly. There was dust in his blond hair and smears on his face. He looked up, blinking furiously at Yosei, "Oh, good morning, Yoh!"
"Uh..." Yosei pointed at the trail of stuff across the floor, "What're you looking for?"
"Ah, Yosei!" Angelo jumped to his feet, "Exams are this afternoon and I can't find my lucky pen!"
Yosei raised an eyebrow. All this mess for a pen? He sighed, "What?"
"My lucky pen! You know! The green one with the metallic-teal ink and the crack down the barrel that looks like a leaf? I won't take my exams without it! I've never failed while using it!"
"Angelo," Yosei rubbed his eyes and shook his head, fatigue in his voice, "It's not the pen that passes the tests, it's the person holding the pen! You know that!"
"But-"
"No, no," Yosei wagged a finger at this friend, "Listen now. You, go get cleaned up and get to class. I'll stay home and clean up. Trust me, Angelo, you'll do fine! There's no need for a lucky pen!"
"Well, okay..." Angelo approached the bathroom, "You're right! I'll do just fine!"
Yosei watched him disappear, grinning with encouragement. The door shut and he looked at the menagerie of knick-knacks around his ankles, sighing heavily. He picked up his toothbrush and rubbed his head, "Guess I should get started. Angelo's house should be clean on his birthday..."
